New Chairman, deputy Chair for Building Research

New Chairman, deputy Chairman for Building Research Board

Building Research has announced two new Board appointments. Board member Steve Gentry has become Chairman and director Graham Coe has been made deputy Chairman. Both appointments are effective immediately.

Building Research invests in an extensive range of research, technology transfer and scholarship activities, with funds derived from the Building Research Levy.

Chief Executive of Building Research Dr Sunil Vather said, “We are delighted to have secured the services of Steve and Graham for the respective roles of Chairman and deputy Chairman. These two appointments are significant and reiterate the breadth of experience and the wide range of skills present on the Board.”

The Board of Building Research has the task of determining how the Levy funds are invested for the benefit of New Zealand’s construction future and the wider economy as a result. Board members are drawn widely from the industry, and nominees are appointed from national bodies of builders, contractors, subcontractors, property owners, territorial authorities, engineers, architects and manufacturers.

Mr Gentry is one of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand’s (IPENZ) two nominees on the Board. Steve’s career began by designing structures for meat packing plants, particularly cold storage. He has 40 years consulting engineering experience in the building industry. He has a long standing involvement with IPENZ, the Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand (ACENZ), and the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC). He became president of FIDIC in the early 1990s, and is the first and only New Zealander to have done so.

Steve has also been involved in the electricity industry, beginning as a Board member for Energy Direct. He has also been on the Board of the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand (ECNZ), and Meridian Energy, from which he recently retired. Steve enjoys skiing, walking, and reads widely.

Mr Coe has 37 years experience owning contracting companies. He owned Coe and Lewer Construction Ltd for 32 years and five years ago he and his son established Coe Construction Limited, based in Franklin. Graham’s involvement with Coe Construction is now limited to a consulting role, where he provides advice and undertakes quantity surveying on an as required basis. Graham has 45 years experience in the building industry and served his apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery.

Graham has been a member of the Auckland branch of the Master Builders Association since 1972, and has held a number of senior positions within the organisation. He served on the Master Builders Federation Board, an organisation of which he is a life member, and was on the sub-committee of the organisation that implemented the Master Builders Federation’s House of the Year competition.

In his spare time Graham enjoys fishing, diving, hunting and sports. He also enjoys gardening.

ENDS

Building Research - Note to Editors:
Building Research invests in an extensive range of research, technology transfer and scholarship activities, with funds derived from the Building Research Levy, under the direction of a Board drawn widely from the building and construction industry. See www.buildingresearch.org.nz

Building Research should not be referred to as BRANZ, which is the trading name of the separate entity BRANZ Ltd (see www.branz.co.nz). BRANZ Ltd delivers research, testing, consultancy and educational services. While BRANZ Ltd has its own Board, it is owned by Building Research but draws only 40% of its income from investments by Building Research.

© Scoop Media